The Talmud teaches that Moses instituted public Torah readings on Shabbat, Monday, and Thursday so that three days would not pass without Torah.1

Getting an aliyah consists of being called to the Torah, saying a blessing, standing near the reader while the Torah is read, and then saying a concluding blessing. This is done by a number of people successively.

Although Moses established the basic practice of holding public Torah readings, Ezra and the Men of the Great Assembly later expanded it by increasing the number of verses read on weekdays and by instituting an additional Torah reading at Minchah on Shabbat

While there are many laws regarding the reading of the Torah, we’ll focus on the laws and customs relating to the one being called up for the aliyah.

Who is called to the Torah?

Any Jewish male over the age of thirteen may be called to the Torah. Assuming a Kohen and Levi are present, they are called up for the first and second aliyah, respectively. Yisraelim (all non-Kohanim and Leviim) are called for the other aliyot.2

A Kohen or Levi can receive maftir (the “additional” aliyah given to the person who reads from the Prophets) as well.

When to get an aliyah

Although you can generally get an aliyah anytime, there are various life-cycle events and occasions when you’re meant to receive an aliyah and are given precedence over others. For example, a bar mitzvah boy, a groom who’s getting married that week, the father of a newborn, a sandek, a mohel and one who’s commemorating a yahrtzeit are all meant to get an aliyah.3

Additionally, the Rebbe strongly encouraged people to get an aliyah on the Shabbat prior to their birthday (or, if their birthday falls out on Shabbat, on their birthday).4

How is one called to the Torah?

The most common custom is to call a person to the Torah by his Jewish name and his father’s Jewish name.5 In some Sephardic6 communities, the custom is not to call the person by name; rather, the gabbai signals him to come up.7

If you don’t know your father’s name, you’re called by your grandfather’s name—preferably your father’s father, though your mother’s father is also acceptable. If none of these names are known, you’re called ben Avraham.8 Some have the custom to use ben Avraham whenever the father’s name is unknown.9

If you’re a convert, you’re called ben Avraham.10 If your father is not Jewish, you can likewise be called ben Avraham or by your maternal grandfather’s name. If you’re adopted, you’re called by your biological father’s name or ben Avraham, and not by the name of your adoptive father. If this would cause great embarrassment, consult a rabbi, since there are some who rule that in certain situations you may be called by your adoptive father's name.11

Am I required to go up to the Torah if I’m called?

In general, unless there is a valid reason not to (as we’ll discuss), you’re obligated to go up for an aliyah if you’re called to the Torah. The Talmud has harsh words to say about one who refuses an aliyah, and warns that, G‑d forbid, his life will be shortened.12

What do I do when my name is called?

When called for an aliyah, you should promptly go to the bimah by the shortest available route, whether it is to the right or the left of the Bima. If there are two routes of equal length, take the one on your right.13

Do I need to wear a tallit?

Many communities have the custom that anyone who receives an aliyah during Shacharit on Shabbat and Yom Tov put on a tallit for their aliyah.14 However, many of these communities don’t do so on Mondays, Thursdays or at Minchah of Shabbat.15

The Chabad custom does not require wearing a tallit gadol for an aliyah or for reading the Torah, unless the person is already wearing one during the prayers (such as a married man).16 However, in a synagogue where it is customary for the baal korei (Torah reader) and the one called up to wear a tallit, you should follow the local practice.17 Additionally, in many synagogues, even if a talit isn’t specifically worn, you may be offered a hat and jacket to wear during your aliyah.

Being shown the place that will be read

Before the blessings are recited, the baal korei will show you the place in the Torah where the reading will begin.18 The Chabad custom is to show the end point as well.19

The custom is to touch the spot of the reading with the Torah’s gartel (sash) or with your tallit and then kiss the part of the gartel or talit that you used to touch the Torah.20 The Chabad custom, as recorded in Sefer Haminhagim, is to touch the start and end point of the section that will be read.21 Take care to touch the parchment gently with the fabric, placing it on the words rather than rubbing across the words. If you’re using the gartel, make sure no metal parts touch the scroll. The Rebbe would touch the beginning of the reading, then the end, then the beginning again, and afterward kiss the tallit.

Reciting the blessing on the Torah

When you get an aliyah, you recite a blessing before and after the reading.

Before the first blessing, you say Barechu, which serves as an introduction to the subsequent blessing and invites the congregation to join in and consent what will be said.

(Some Sephardic communities customarily precede Barechu with “Hashem imachem,” to which the congregation responds, “Yevarechecha Hashem.”).

During the blessings, you hold the handles of the Sefer Torah.22

Some halachic authorities say that you shouldn’t hold the handles of the Torah directly, since the Torah itself may not be touched, and therefore recommend holding them through the tallit.23

Others rule that the prohibition applies only to the parchment itself, and that the handles may be held with bare hands.24 Although some are stringent to use a tallit (as is recorded in Sefer Haminhagim - Chabad25), the Rebbe would hold the handles directly, and this is the accepted Chabad practice.26

Text of blessing recited before the Torah reading

בָּרְכוּ אֶת יְיָ הַמְבֹרָךְ׃

בָּרוּךְ יְיָ הַמְבֹרָךְ לְעוֹלָם וָעֶד׃

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, אֲשֶׁר בָּחַר בָּנוּ מִכָּל הָעַמִּים, וְנָתַן לָנוּ אֶת תּוֹרָתוֹ. בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ, נֹתֵן הַתּוֹרָה׃

Translation

Bless the L-rd who is blessed.

Blessed be the L-rd who is blessed for all eternity.

Blessed are You, L-rd our G‑d, King of the universe, who has chosen us from among all the nations and given us His Torah. Blessed are You L-rd, who gives the Torah.

What to do during the reading of the Torah?

After reciting the opening blessing, don’t speak until after the reading is completed and you have said the concluding blessing. This applies to the baal korei (the one reading from the Torah) as well.27

While the baal korei is reading the Torah, follow and read along quietly in the torah, word for word. Be sure to read softly enough for your ears only.28

If you can’t or don’t know how to read along, remain silent and, if possible, follow along in the text.29 (This also applies if you’re called up to the Torah while you’re in the middle of the Shema or its blessings.30 If you’re in the middle of Pesukei Dezimrah [the earlier psalms of the morning service], some authorities permit you to read along quietly.31)

What do I do after the reading?

After completing your aliyah, you kiss the Sefer Torah. The custom is to touch the place of the reading with the Torah’’s gartel (belt) or tzitzit and then kiss them. The Chabad custom, as recorded in Sefer Haminhagim, is to touch the end of the reading and then the beginning.32 The Rebbe would touch the end, then the beginning, then the end again, and afterward kiss his tallit.

The Torah is then closed, and the second blessing is recited.33

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, אֲשֶׁר נָתַן לָנוּ תּוֹרַת אֱמֶת, וְחַיֵּי עוֹלָם נָטַע בְּתוֹכֵנוּ. בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ, נוֹתֵן הַתּוֹרָה׃

Translation

Blessed are You, L-rd our G‑d, King of the universe, who has given us the Torah of truth and planted eternal life within us. Blessed are You L-rd, who gives the Torah.

What if I mixed up the blessings?

If you mistakenly recited Asher Natan Lanu instead of Asher Bachar Banu and haven’t yet said G‑d’s Name in the concluding line, you should correct yourself and recite Asher Bachar Banu. If you already said G‑d’s Name, you conclude with Nosein HaTorah and fulfill your obligation; in that case, you recite Asher Natan Lanu as the concluding blessing.34

If you forgot to say Barechu before Asher Bachar Banu, and you already recited G‑d’s Name, you don’t go back to say it.35

If you mistakenly recited the opening blessing (Asher Bachar Banu) instead of the concluding blessing (Asher Natan Lanu), here’s what to do:

  • If you haven’t yet said G‑d’s Name at the end of the blessing, you should correct yourself and say the proper concluding blessing.
  • If you’ve already begun saying G‑d’s Name, you should immediately continue with Asher Natan Lanu.
  • If you already finished the blessing, you need to repeat the correct concluding blessing from the beginning.36

Mi shebeirach

On Shabbat, some synagogues recite a special Mi Sheberach blessing for the person called up to the Torah. In some synagogues, it is customary for the person who received an aliyah to pledge a donation to the synagogue at that time.

What do I do afterward?

After finishing your aliyah, remain at the bimah until after the next aliyah is completed.37

Before leaving, place your tallit on the Sefer Torah and kiss it.38

When returning to your place, you should take a different and longer route, rather than the one you used to go up. If you ascended by a path on your right, you should descend by the opposite side.39

After completing an aliyah, the proper synagogue etiquette is to thank the gabbai for calling you up, commonly by saying “thank you” or, more traditionally, “yasher koach.” In addition, it is customary for members of the congregation to say “yasher koach” to you after the aliyah as a way of acknowledging and honoring your participation in the Torah reading.

What if I am in the middle of prayers? Do I interrupt?

Initially (Lechatchilah)

In the first instance, the gabbai should not call someone for an aliyah if the person is still in the middle of Pesukei Dezimrah or Birchot Shema (after Yotzer Or). The exception is if he is the only Kohen or Levi in the synagogue and is still within Pesukei Dezimrah (but not past Yotzer Or), then they may be called up even initially.40 Some authorities permit calling a person even initially if he is between Yishtabach and Yotzer Or (i.e., right where Barchu is normally recited).41

If a Kohen or Levi has already passed Yotzer Or and therefore may not be called, and he is the only Kohen or Levi present, he should step out of the synagogue before the aliyah.42

After the fact (Bedieved):

If you’re between Baruch She’amar and Go’al Yisrael and are called for an aliyah, the Ashkenazic custom is that you should go up and recite the blessings—even if you are a Yisrael and even if you’re in the middle of Shema.43 If possible, you should first try to reach the end of the paragraph or topic, provided this will not delay the Torah reading.

If you’ve already passed Yotzer Or, you should not read along with the baal korei.44 If you are within Pesukei Dezimrah, you can read along quietly.45 In all cases, you should not interrupt to request a Mi Sheberach, etc.46

After completing the aliyah, resume your prayers from where you left off.47